[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE MADE A GIANT STEP FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> DEMOCRATS PASS A MASSIVE ELECTION BILL THEY SAY IS AIMED AT PROTECTING VOTERS' RIGHTS BUT THE G.O.P.

CRIES POLITICS.

WE'LL EXPLAIN WHAT'S IN THE BILL.

>> YOU WANTED BETTER PAYING JOBS?

EDUCATION.

>> A NEW ILLINOIS LAW SEEKS TO PUT BLACK STUDENTS ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.

>> RIGHT NOW, I COULD NOT FEEL LONELIER.

>> OPRAH WINFREY'S INTERVIEW OPENS UP A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE AND IDENTITY.

>> A SO-CALLED CANCEL CULTURE CONTROVERSY AS SIX DR. SEUSS BOOKS ARE WITHDRAWN FROM PUBLICATION BY THE LITERARY ESTATE.

>> THE LOWEST EMPLOYMENT RATE SINCE 1988 HOW WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> METRA AND DOWNTOWN LANDLORDS JOIN FORCES TO WOO COMMUTERS BACK INTO THE CITY THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> AND REVISITING JAMES BALDWIN'S WORDS.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

JURY SELECTION IN UNWITH OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST WATCHED MURDER TRIALS IS EXPECTED TO RESUME TOMORROW.

A JUDGE PAUSED SELECTION WHILE AN APPEALS COURT DECIDES WHETHER FORMER MINNEAPOLIS COP DERRICK CHAUVIN SHOULD FACE A THIRD DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD HE DIED AS HE PRESSED HIS KNEE INTO THIS NECK WHILE FACEDOWN AND HANDCUFFED IN THE STREET.

CHAUVIN IS FACING SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES AND HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO BOTH.

>> ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE ANOTHER 1100 CORONAVIRUS CASES SINCE YESTERDAY AND FIVE DEATHS.

THE NUMBER OF CASES IS NEARING 1.2 MILLION AND 27 IKS 067 PEOPLE DIED.

>> MORE CHICAGO PUBLIC STUDENTS RETURNED FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING AS THE DISTRICT ASKS PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD LIKE TO RETURN AS WELL.

HERE ARE PICTURES THE DISTRICT SHARED AS 18,000 6-8 GRADE STUDENTS WERE EXPECTED BACK.

K-5 RETURNED LAST WEEK WHEN THEY BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS HOW TO SAFELY REOPEN HIGH SCHOOLS.

FAMILIES OF 9-12 GRADERS ARE RECEIVING SURVEYS ON WHETHER THEY INTEND TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

AND NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK HOW FEDERAL LAWMAKERS ARE TACKLING VOTING RIGHTS.

PARIS?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THE HOUSE PASS AID SWEEPING BILL THAT WOULD EXPAND VOTING ACCESS AND MANDATE A SERIES OF CHANGES TO THE ELECTION SYSTEM.

DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING VOTERS' RIGHTS AND REPUBLICANS ARGUE IT'S MOTIVATED BY POLITICS.

>> WE WAVE FLAGS IN HONOR OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

THIS LEGISLATION IS THERE TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO REMOVE OBSTACLES OF PARTICIPATION.

>> DEMOCRAT LEGISLATION ONLY HELPS THEMSELVES.

DEMOCRATS WANT TO USE THE RAZOR THIN MAJORITY NOT TO PASS BILLS TO EARN VOTERS' TRUST BUT TO INSURE THEY DON'T LOSE MORE SEATS IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> AND JOINING US ARE CAMERON SHOLTY GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR AT THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE AND AMI GANDHI SENIOR LAWYER ON THE COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

LET'S OUTLINE THE PROVISIONS IN THIS BILL.

IN ENABLES AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION, MANDATED 15-DAY EARLY VOTING PERIOD AND END TO PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING AND REVEALING THE SOURCE OF MONEY FOR SUPER PACS MORE TRANSPARENCY.

CAMERON SHOLTY HOW WOULD THIS BILL IMPACT VOTING AND ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

AMI, WELCOME, THANK YOU.

>> THIS BILL DOES PUT A THUMB ON THE SCALES OF AN ELECTION IS WHAT IT DOES.

IT AS IT HAS PUBLIC FINANCING PROVISIONS FOR ELECTIONS IN IT.

IT REQUIRES DISCLOSURE OF SOURCES OF MONEY.

IT HAS VOTER AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION.

IT HAS REDISTRICTING PRIVILEGES AND MANDATES IN THERE.

SIMPLY PUT THIS FEDERALIZES ELECTIONS AND TAKES IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE STATES WHERE IT RIGHTLY HAS BEEN.

>> AND AMI GANDHI WE'LL GET MORE INTO THAT YOUR READ ON THIS BILL AND HOW IT IMPACTS ELECTIONS AND VOTING AND SPECIFICALLY WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

>> THIS BILL SETS SOME BASIC STANDARDS.

OUR ELECTION SYSTEM HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE DECENTRALIZED BUT THIS WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN GIVING BASIC PROTECTIONS TO VOTERS WHO HAVE BEEN THE MOST DISENFRANCHISED WHICH STILL INCLUDES BLACK VOTERS AND VOTERS OF COLOR WHO ARE UNFAIRLY BLOCKED FROM BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

WE SAW THAT IN 2020 UNFORTUNATELY WE SEE THAT TODAY AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO FACE UNIQUE VOTING CHALLENGES IN THE PANDEMIC TIMES.

SO THE HR1 IS AN ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD TO GIVING BASIC PROTECTIONS THAT ALL OF US ELIGIBLE CITIZENS DESERVE.

>> CAMERON AS THIS IS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE BRENNAN CENTER ESTIMATES THERE ARE 165 BILLS IN STATE HOUSES THAT WOULD LIMIT VOTING ACCESS LIKE SHORTENING EARLY VOTING PERIODS SO ON AND SO FORTH.

THE GOVERNOR OF IOWA SIGNED A BILL I BELIEVE ON THIS.

HOW WOULD THOSE MEASURES IMPACT VOTING IN ELECTIONS?

>> WELL, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THE MORE PEOPLE WHO VOTE THE MORE PEOPLE WHO EXERCISE THEIR FRANCHISE IS A GOOD THING IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE STATES ISN'T WHOLESALE, A WHOLESALE EFFORT TO DISENFRANCHISE VOTERS.

IT IS A RESPONSE TO GOVERNORS AND COURTS CHANGING THE RULES WITHIN DAYS AND HOURS OF AN ELECTION.

SO WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN THE STATES IS SOME SORT OF STABILITY SOME PREDICTABILITY IN THE PROCESS.

>> AMI YOUR RESPONSE?

SOME OF THE MOVES IN THE STATE HOUSES TO RESTRICT MAIL-IN BATTLING AND EARLY VOTING?

>> THAT'S KIND OF TRYING TO IMPROVE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTION SECURITY.

AND THESE MEASURES ARE A GOOD STEP FORWARD TO TRY TO DO THAT.

WE ARE A WAYS AWAY FROM THE NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION IT IS A GREAT TIME TO SET CLEAR BASIC MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ELIGIBLE VOTERS TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON.

WE ARE FACING THREATS TO OUR VOTING RIGHTS IN 2021 EVEN IN ILLINOIS.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS AND SOME SOLUTIONS THAT LEADERS ACROSS THE AISLE AGREED ON TO RYE TRY TO IMPROVE OUR ELECTION SYSTEM AND FIRST TIME VOTERS FEELING COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROCESS THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS TIME NOT ANY FRIVOLOUS ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK ELIGIBLE VOTERS FROM PARTICIPATING LIKE VOTER ID LAWS OR UNFAIR RESTRICTIONS ON VOTE-BY-MAIL WHICH REMAINS A NECESSARY TOOL IN THESE DANGEROUS PUBLIC HEALTH TIMES.

>> CAMERON SHOLTY BACK TO THE FEDERAL BILL HR1.

IT FACES AN UPHILL BATTLE IN THE SENATE IF IT WANTS TO GET A PHILLY BUSTER -- FILIBUSTER PROOF MAJORITY.

DO YOU SEE 10 SENATORS?

>> NO.

>> IS THERE ANY COMPROMISE THAT WOULD BE BIPARTISAN?

>> I THINK WHAT -- IF THIS THIS BILL WOULD NEED TO BE WHOLESALE REWRITE IF IT WERE TO STAND A CHANCE IN THE SENATE.

AGAIN, MANY OF THE ISSUES THE PROBLEMS THAT G.O.P.

SENATORS WILL HAVE WITH THIS BILL AS I OUTLINED IS IT USURPS THE AUTHORITY AND THE CAPACITY OF THE STATES TO RUN ELECTIONS AS THEY SEE APPROPRIATE.

>> AMI GANDHI -- >> THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TIME STAND UP FOR VOTERS AND WHAT VOTERS ARE ASKING FOR.

IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE INSISTING ON OR WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE INSISTING ARE.

WE ARE A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION WE ANSWER VOTERS QUESTIONS TO OUR HOTLINE 866-OUR VOTE AND WE HEAR FROM VOTERS ALL THE TIME REGARDLESS OF WHAT CANDIDATE THEY PREFER.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

NOT NEEDLESSLY CONFUSING BUREAUCRACIES AND HOOPS FOR THEM TO JUMP THROUGH.

WE HAVE TO VALUE VOTERS VACCINIZES.

>> ILLINOIS MOVED IN THE DIRECTION, THE STATE'S INSTITUTED AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION WITH AN OPT-OUT PROVISION.

EXPANDED MAIL-IN.

HOW HAS THAT WORKED IN ILLINOIS?

>> IT'S BEEN AN EXCELLENT STEP FORWARD WHERE GOVERNMENT LEADERS HAVE COME TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SAY LET'S IMPROVE OUR SYSTEMS AND LET'S HAVE ON-LINE VOTER REGISTRATION, AUTOMATIC VOTER REGULAR VACCINATION.

IMPLEMENTATION IS KEY.

AND WE WOULD ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE STRONGER IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROVISIONS.

BUT THEY CERTAINLY ARE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> CAMERON SHOLTY ONLY COUPLE SECONDS LEFT SAY THE FEDERAL LAW DID PASS, STATE LEGISLATORS DOING SOMETHING ELSEWHERE WOULD THE LAW FALL DOWN?

>> YOU KNOW, AMI IS AN ATTORNEY AND THE FEDERAL LAW WOULD OVERRIDE CONFLICTING STATE STATUTES THAT WOULD BE IN PLACE.

I MEAN, AGAIN IF THEY CONFLICTED.

THIS DOES WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO AN UNFUNDED MANDATE AND COST CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO THE STATES AS WELL.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU TO CAMERON SHOLTY AND AMI GANDHI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

AS WE MENTIONED, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS 6-8 GRADE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOMS TODAY.

THE FIRST DAY IN-PERSON LEARNING HAS BEEN OFFERED SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE SAME DAY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED A NEW LAW THAT AIMS TO TRANSFORM HOW STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT SUCH THAT BLACK STUDENTS HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AT SUCCESS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

THIS IS PART OF THE BLACK CAUCUS' LEGISLATIVE AGENDA?

>> YES, THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CASH BAIL, 700 PAGES OF OTHER CHANGES AS YOU NOTED THIS IS PART OF SEVERAL MEASURES ADVANCED BY BLACK LEGISLATORS IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING.

AND KIM LIGHTFORD SAYS THIS NEW LAW FOCUSED ON EDUCATION IS EVERY BIT AS SIGNIFICANT AS THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW.

>> YOU WANT SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS?

EDUCATION.

YOU WANT BETTER PAYING JOBS?

EDUCATION.

YOU WANT LESS GOVERNMENT RELIANCE?

EDUCATION.

>> PRITZKER SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW AT LIGHT FORWARD'S ALMA MATER.

SHE SAYS FOR TOO LONG INEQUITIES IN ILLINOIS' SCHOOL SYSTEM AND CURRICULUM UPHELD WHITE SUPREMACY IS HARMING VULNERABLE CHILDREN.

>> I HAVE BEEN THE ANGRY BLACK WOMAN.

A BADGE I CARRY WITH PRIDE.

AND DEMANDING THE INEQUITIES AND INJUSTICES OUR CHILDREN FACE BE ADDRESSED.

THIS IS MY MOMENT OF PEACE.

MY ANGER IS GONE.

>> BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE SO TRANSFORMATIVE.

ONE MAJOR REASON THAT SCHOOLS AREN'T ON LEVEL PLAYING FIELDS IS THEY ARE DEPENDENT ON PROPERTY TAXES SO SCHOOLS IN WEALTHY AREAS HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND ON EDUCATION AND THIS BILL DOES NOT COME WITH EXTRA FUNDING BUT IT TOUCHES ON EVERYTHING FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND AMONG THE WAYS THAT BACKERS SAY IT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIVE, A REQUIREMENT FOR TEACHING BLACK HISTORY.

>> IT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY.

AND BLACK HISTORY IS A HISTORY THAT EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE IT IS EVERYONE'S HISTORY.

FROM CIVILIZATIONS OF KINGS AND QUEENS, ARTISANS AND SCIENTISTS UP THROUGH THE MIDDLE PASSAGE FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO CIVIL RIGHTS TO BLACK LIVES MATTER.

>> ALSO HIGH SCHOOLS WILL NOW ALSO HAVE TO INCLUDE COURSES IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE.

>> HOW OUTRAGEOUS IS IT THAT OUR FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY AND IT IS A GREAT SCHOOL THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS REQUIRES COURSES THAT SOME OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS DO NOT PROVIDE ACCESS TO?

THIS BILL ADDRESSES THAT.

LAB SCIENCES, TWO YEARS NOW.

TWO YEARS.

HANDS ON SOLVING PROBLEMS.

TWO YEARS FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

>> MEANWHILE THERE'S PLENTY ELSE GOING ON AS DISTRICTS AND STUDENTS GRAPPLE WITH NAVIGATING SCHOOL DURING A PANDEMIC DURING A HEARING ONE LEGISLATOR PRESSED THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STATE SCHOOLS HOW RETURNING TO INCLASSROOM LEARNING IS GOING?

>> THE CITIES IN WHL AND OTHER EXPERTS HAVE CLEARLY BEEN STATING THAT IN-PERSON EDUCATION IS SAFE AND IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS.

IS THAT THE POLICY OR THE POSITION OF YOURSELF AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE MESSAGED CONTINUOUSLY THAT IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION WHEN IT IS ABSOLUTELY SAFE TO DO SO IS THE GOAL.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE MORE AND MORE ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS IN ILLINOIS.

AGAIN AS LONG AS IT IS SAFE.

>> 90% OF ILLINOIS DISTRICTS REPORT THAT THEY ARE DOING AT LEAST SOME IN-PERSON LEARNING.

THAT COULD MEAN HYBRID.

THAT COVERS 89% OF ILLINOIS' 1.2 MILLION STUDENTS.

BUT DID NOT DIRECTLY RESPOND WHEN PRESSED BY THAT REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT WHETHER ILLINOIS MAY USE FUNDING TO INCENTIVIZE IN-PERSON LEARNING MERELY SAYING THAT EACH DISTRICT IS UNIQUE.

ANOTHER LEGISLATOR CONCERNED THAT ILLINOIS STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN A NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR.

>> BASICALLY, LOSING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR, AND WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY EXCEPTIONS OR ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THAT AND YET, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE SETTING THEM UP FOR FAILURE SO WE CAN TELL THE WORLD YEP, WE KNEW THEY WOULD FAIL AND THEY FAILED.

THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR KIDS' PSYCHE.

>> BECAUSE IT IS A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT THAT THE EXAMS STILL BE GIVEN.

ILLINOIS IS, HOWEVER, ASKING FOR A WAIVER FROM THE FEDS TO SORT OF DOWN-PLAY THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STANDARDIZED TESTS THAT ILLINOIS WOULD CHANCE LOSING ON A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY IF THE STATE WERE TO TRY TO SKIP THEM ENTIRELY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND CONTROVERSY OVER A BELOVED AUTHOR'S LITERARY WORKS.

PARIS?

>> THANK YOU.

THE LATE AUTHOR OF CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOKS LIKE THE CAT IN THE HAT AND GREEN EGGS AND HAM IS AT THE CENTER OF A CANCEL CULTURE CONTROVERSY.

DR. SEUSS ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT SIX BOOKS WOULD NO LONGER BE PUBLISHED BECAUSE THEY QUOTE PORTRAY PEOPLE IN WAYS THAT ARE HURTFUL AND WRONG.

THE DECISION WAS MADE IN CONSULTATION WITH EDUCATORS AND AFTER REVIEWING THE AUTHOR'S WORKS.

WHILE THE MOVE WAS WELCOMED BY MANY THE DECISION HAS NOT SAT WELL WITH EVERYONE.

>> JOINING US ARE SAMUEL KARNICK, SENIOR FELLOW AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS AT THE HEART LAND INSTITUTE, AND DEBORAH CALDWELL-STONE DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO BASED AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S OFFICE FOR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM.

WELCOME BOTH OF TO YOU "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> THANK YOU.

>> DEBORAH CALDWELL-STONE, REMIND US WHAT IT WAS IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THESE SIX BOOKS THAT CAUSED SUCH AN UPROAR?

>> BASICALLY IT WAS COLLECTION OF IMAGES THAT WERE RACIALLY OFFENSIVE BOTH OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND ASIAN PERSONS.

AND SO AS YOU SAID, THE ZEUS ESTATE RESUED THE BOOKS REVIEWED THE BOOKS SO THEY ALLOWED THEM TO GO OUT OF PRINT AND WE HAVE TO EMPHASIZE WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THEY ARE NOT ASKING ANYONE TO STOP READING THEM, TAKING THEM OUT OF COLLECTIONS OR SCHOOLS.

THEY MADE A DECISION THAT THEY WANTED TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE AND CELEBRATE THE FOR THE CHILDREN THEY SERVE.

>> SAMUEL KARNICK, YOUR REACTION TO THE MOVE BY DR. SEUSS ENTERPRISES TO DO WHAT DEBORAH CALDWELL-STONE SAID TO DISCONTINUE THE PUBLICATION OF THEM?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY UNDERSTANDABLE.

BUT WE HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND THAT THIS IS A DECISION BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT GIVEN THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE AUTHOR'S OTHER WORKS THAT HE DID DURING LEADING UP TO AND DURING WORLD WAR II, THAT TARGET WAS GOING TO BE ON THEIR BACKS.

AND THEY MADE A FINANCIAL DECISION HERE TO THROW SIX OF THE BOOKS OUT IN HOPES THAT THE ENTIRE CANAAN WOULD NOT BE CANCELED.

AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.

PEOPLE ESCAPING FROM A PACK OF WOLVES AND THEY THROW A DOG OUT TO THE WOLVES AND HOPE THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET AWAY.

>> YOU ARE SAYING THIS WAS A MOVE TO PERHAPS PREVENT A BIGGER CANCELLATION OF DR. SEUSS.

>> DEBORAH CALDWELL-STONE HAS SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION YOU SAW CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY SAYING AS SOON AS THE HOLDS AND THE RESERVATIONS ON THE BOOKS ARE OVER THEY WILL TAKE THEM OUT OF CIRCULATION.

WHAT IS YOUR GUIDANCE FOR LIBRARIES HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE BOOKS?

>> WELL U.

OUR GUIDANCE HAS BEEN AT THE DECISION BY THE DR. SEUSS ESTATE TO STOP PUBLISHING THE BOOKS IN THE FUTURE IS NOT A REASON FOR THE LIBRARIES TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THE COLLECTION.

AND WE'RE SEEING A RANGE OF RESPONSES FROM LIBRARIES.

NUMBER OF LIBRARIES ARE ALLOWING THEM TO STAY ON THE SHELF AND NAPERVILLE IS ONE OF THE SYSTEMS THAT DOING THAT.

AND AND I WANT TO BE WHAT CHICAGO PUBLIC IS DOING ONCE THEY HONOR THE HOLDS THEY WILL PULL THE BOOKS FOR REVIEW AND A NUMBER OF THINGS COULD RESULT.

EVERY LIBRARY HAS A POLICY THAT DICTATES WHAT IS IN THE COLLECTION AND HOW THEY CURATE IT AND THEY MAY DECIDE THAT THE BOOKS BELONG IN A RESEARCH COLLECTION I'M AWARE THAT CHICAGO PUBLIC HAS A GOOD RESEARCH COLLECTION FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.

OTHER LIBRARIES ARE SAYING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE BOOKS DURING STORY TIME BUT THEY WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE FAMILIES THAT WANT TO READ THEM.

>> SAMUEL KARNICK, A LOT OF KOMENT COMMENTATORS ON THE RIGHT ARE SAYING THIS IS PART OF THE CANCEL CULTURE.

IS THAT AN ACCURATE TERM TO USE HERE WHEN IT IS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION DR. SEUSS ENTERPRISES THAT MADE THIS DECISION OR WOULD IT BE CANCEL CULTURE IF LIBRARIES AND ORGANIZATIONS DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH THE BOOK?

>> WELL, IT IS CENSURESHIP THEY ARE -- CENSORSHIP AND THEY ARE CENSORING IT THEMSELVES.

WE SELF CENSOR.

ANYBODY WHO WRITES A BOOK IS SELF CENSORING A BOOK.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, IS THIS IS AN OUTCOME OF OUR CURRENT COPY WRITE LAWS OF THE.

THE FACTS THE DOCUMENTS SHOULD NOT BE UNDER COPYRIGHT AND THE ESTATE SHOULD HAVE NO AUTHORITY.

COPYRIGHT HAS 14 YEARS WITH A 14 YEARS RENEWAL AND 40 YEARS LATER IT WAS MADE 28 YEARS AND WHEN WALT DISNEY'S COPYRIGHT ON MIKKI MOUSE STARTED TO GET CLOSE TO BEING ENDED, WE GOT THE COPYRIGHTS EXTENDED AND EXTENDED UNTIL NOW THEY ARE THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR AND [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE EVERYTHING IS UNDER COPYRIGHT UNTIL THE YEAR UNTIL -- AND MIKKI MOUSE WAS 1928.

WE WILL GET ANOTHER EXTENSION OF COPYRIGHT.

>> THE BIGGER ISSUE IS COPYRIGHT LAW MAYBE NOT CANCEL CULTURE.

DEBORAH CALDWELL-STONE, WHAT ABOUT, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH NOT JUST DR. SEUSS BOOKS AND THESE INTERPRETATIONS BUT OTHER BOOKS?

OBVIOUSLY HAVE PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT THEY WERE IN.

SHARE R SHAKESPEARE.

WHAT DO LIBRARIES DO ABOUT THAT?

>> THEY EXPAND THE CANAAN THEY EXPAND THEIR COLLECTION.

THERE IS SUCH A WEALTH OF CHILDREN'S LITTER THAT CELEBRATES THE DIVERSE EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

AND THAT DON'T CONFRONT CHILDREN WITH RACIST IMAGES THAT COULD BE HURTFUL OR TRAUMATIZING FOR THEM AS THEY READ THE BOOKS WITH THEIR PARENTS OR ON THEIR OWN.

LIBRARIES ARE DEVOTED TO EXPANDING THEIR COLLECTIONS TO INCLUDE THESE BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE THE DIVERSE EXPERIENCE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN, ASIAN CHILDREN AND CHILDREN OF ALL EXPERIENCES AND FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, ELEVATING THE VOICES.

FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE CENTERED THE WHITE EXPERIENCE WITH OUR CHILDREN'S LITTER LITERATURE.

AND INCUMBENT UPON US AS INSTITUTIONS TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE REFLECTED IN THE COLLECTIONS THEY FIND IN THE LIBRARIES.

>> AND SAMUEL KARNICK, DO YOU BELIEVE IS THERE SOME BENEFIT TO KEEPING BOOKS LIKE THE DR. SEUSS BOOKS AROUND SO KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO PERHAPS WHAT FOLKS THOUGHT AT THE TIME WHETHER RIGHT OR WRONG?

>> ABSOLUTELY THERE IS.

IGNORANCE IS NOT A GOOD THING.

AND PEOPLE NEED KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE WORLD AROUND THEM LOOKS LIKE.

AND TO HIDE IT FROM PEOPLE IS FOOLISH.

CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO ASSIMILATE AND YOU HAD THESE THINGS.

THERE'S PLENTY THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND BUT THEY WILL GET THERE.

GIVING PEOPLE FREEDOM TO READ AND WATCH AND HEAR WHAT IS OUT THERE IS A GOOD THING.

AND WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT.

>> GOOD DISCUSSION OUR THANKS TO SAMUEL KARNICK AND DEBORAH CALDWELL-STONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT SOME OF TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

PLEASE STICK AROUND.

>> MODERNA PARTNERS WITH A LOCAL COMPANY TO PRODUCE UP TO 90 MILLION DOSES OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE IN THE U.S. METRA AND DOWNTOWN LANDLORDS JOIN FORCES TO WOO COMMUTERS BACK INTO THE CITY.

AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCING THE WINNING PROPOSALS FOR CHICAGO'S INVEST SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE.

HERE IS CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS REPORTER DANNY ECKER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

LOCAL COMPANY HERE DEERFIELD BASED BAXTER INTERNATIONAL THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH MODERNA ON THE VACCINE WHAT DOES THIS PARTNERSHIP ENTAIL?

>> IT IS ALL ABOUT TRYING TO SPEED UP VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTION.

BAXTER IS WELL-KNOWN AS A MEDICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE FILLING VIALS OF MODERNA'S VACCINE AND SUPPLYING PACKAGING FOR 90 MILLION DOSES IN THE U.S.

THIS YEAR.

MODERNA HAD A DEAL WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE 300 MILLION DOSES OF THE VACCINE THIS YEAR AND TRYING TO FULFILL THAT BY JULY SO THIS HELPS HOPEFULLY TO MEET THAT GOAL AND IT IS A WIN FOR ONE OF THE CHICAGO AREA'S LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES IN THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.

>> PLAYING A ROLE HERE.

AND MOVE ON TO METRA IS JOINING FORCES WITH THE BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF CHICAGO TO BRING COMMUTERS BACK INTO THE CITY FOR WORK.

HOW IS THAT GOING?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SLOW SO FAR BUT THE TWO GROUPS IT'S INTERESTING PARTNERSHIP THEY HAVE A SHARED GOAL WHICH IS BETWEEN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND OFFICE BUILDING OWNERS ESPECIALLY.

LANDLORDS WANT THE WORKERS BACK IN THE BUILDINGS AND THEY NEED EVERYONE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND METRA NEEDS RIDERS AGAIN.

AND THEY ARE BATTLING TO WORK FROM THE HOME FROM MOVEMENT.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO HOLD A SUMMIT AND GET EXPERTS SAYING HEY IT'S SAFE COME BACK DOWNTOWN THEY WANT TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION AND THE CHALLENGES OF WORKING FROM HOME AND STRONG HEADWINDS FROM EACH.

YOU HAVE RECORD-HIGH VACANCY FOR OWNERS AND 10% OF THE IN TRA'S RIDERSHIP.

THE GROUPS ARE WORKING TOGETHER HOPING THEY CAN GET PEOPLE CONVINCED THEY NEED TO GET BACK DOWNTOWN INTO OFFICES AGAIN.

>> THE QUESTION IS WHEN THAT WAVE OF BACK TO WORKERS IS GOING TO MATERIALIZE IF IT DOES.

THIRD STORY, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCES THE FIRST WAVE OF WINNERS IN THE INVEST SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE AND THIS PROGRAM IS TO REVITALIZE DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AND WEST PARTS OF THE CITY.

WHO WERE THE WINNERS?

AND WHAT ARE THEIR PROJECTS?

>> RIGHT.

SO THE FIRST WAVE AND THEY ARE DOING THESE IN WAVES THE FIRST THREE THEY ANNOUNCED THEY ARE HOPING THEY WILL BREAK GROUND AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE BIGGEST ONE OF THE THREE WAS AUSTIN, THE FORMER LARGEMY BANK BUILDING A LANDMARK THERE IS A GROUP THAT PLANS TO TURN IT INTO SEVERAL NEW USES INCLUDING A BLUE'S MUSEUM.

AS WELL AS A MIXED INCOME APARTMENT BUILDING NEXT DOOR.

IN AUBURN GRESHAM GOT ONE BID ON THIS BUT A GROUP OF APARTMENT DEVELOPERS PLANNING A 56-UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND RETAIL PROJECT NEAR HALSTED.

AND AN INTERESTING ONE IS IN ENGLEWOOD WHERE TWO DEVELOPERS THAT ARE WORKING ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER MICHAEL REESE HOSPITAL SITE ARE BEHIND THE NEXT PHASE OF ENGLEWOOD'S SQUARE.

MIGHT REMEMBER THAT WAS THE SHOPPING CENTER NOW ANCHORED BY WHOLE FOODS AND THEY ARE PLANNING TO DO AN ECOFOOD HUB WITH KITCHEN AND EVENT SPAZ AND PLAZA AND SMALL GREENHOUSES.

>> AND KENNEDY-KING COLLINS WHICH FOCUSES ON CULINARY ARTS.

DANNY ECKER THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... ON THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY A LOOK HOW THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS IMPACTING GENDER EQUITY IN THE WORKPLACE.

>> WON'T BE GIVEN SECURITY NOT GOING TO BE GIVEN A TITLE.

>> RACE IN BRITAIN'S ROYAL FAMILY REACTION TO OPRAH WINFREY'S BOMBSHELL INTERVIEW WITH MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY.

AND REVISITING JAMES BALDWIN'S WRITING AS THE NATION GRAPPLES WITH ITS RACIAL CONSCIENCE.

>> SOME CHICAGO RESIDENTS WERE FRUSTRATED WHEN TRYING TO NAVIGATE A VACCINE APPOINTMENT AT THE UNITED CENTER'S SITE.

OVER THE WEEKEND THE PORTAL WAS FLOODED WITH 300,000 HITS PER MINUTE WHILE TRYING TO MAKE 754 APPOINTMENTS PER MINUTE AT PEAK DEMAND.

ADDITIONALLY OFFICIALS REALIZED YESTERDAY MORNING THAT JUST 37% OF THE 40,000 VACCINE APPOINTMENTS WERE GOING TO CHICAGO RESIDENTS MEANING THEIR EFFORTS TO GET THE VACCINES TO THOSE WHO NEEDED IT THE MOST HAD FAILED.

>> WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT A UNITED CENTER ON THE WEST SIDE WAS BEING UTILIZED BY PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHO LOOK LIKE THE SURROUNDING AREA.

AS WE STUDIED THE DATA FROM THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE SEEING.

>> HEALTH OFFICIALS DECLINED TO SAY HOW MANY APPOINTMENTS ARE BEING RESERVED FOR SUBURBAN RESIDENTS IN THOSE OUTSIDE COOK COUNTY SINCE THE APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED TO ELIGIBLE CHICAGO RESIDENTS.

THE SITE OPENS TOMORROW MORNING AND CAN ADMINISTER 6,000 VACCINATIONS A DAY AT FULL CAPACITY.

CHICAGO BASEBALL FANS WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH THEIR TEAMS PLAY IN-PERSON JUST A FEW.

WRIGLEY FIELD AND GUARANTEED RATE FIELD WILL BE ABLE TO ALLOW FANS TO ATTEND GAMES BUT CAPACITY WILL BE LIMITED TO 20%.

THAT MEANS NO MORE THAN 8274 FANS AT THE FRIENDLY CONFINES AND 8122 FANS ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

MAYOR MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH A VIDEO OF HER PRACTICING THE CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH.

FANS WILL BE DISTANCED INSIDE AND THERE WILL BE NO CASH AT CONCESSIONS AND RETAIL.

THE HOME OPENER IS APRIL 1 AND A WEEK LATER ON THE 8TH FOR THE SOX.

OPRAH WINFREY'S BOMBSHELL INTERVIEW WITH PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE COVERED MANY ISSUES.

BUT ONE IN PARTICULAR HAS SPARKED OUTRAGE OVER THE ALLEGED TREATMENT BY THE ROYAL FAMILY IN THE TABLOIDS.

IT'S RAISED QUESTION ABOUT RACISM IN THE FAMILY THE BRITISH IDENTITY AND WHAT THE ROLE OF THIS INSTITUTION SHOULD BE.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE STEVE PINCUS THE THOMAS E DONNELLY PROFESSOR OF BRITISH HISTORY AND THE COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

AND DAHLEEN GLANTON THE COLUMNNIST WITH THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE".

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

AND DAHLEEN GLANTON WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THAT INTERVIEW LAST NIGHT?

>> I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THEY WERE SO CANDID.

I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY THE THINGS I TRULY BELIEVE NEEDED TO BE SAID.

BUT I AM SO GLAD THEY DID.

BECAUSE I THINK IT STARTED A CONVERSATION THAT IS MUCH-NEEDED ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND CERTAINLY A CONVERSATION IN THE U.S. AND LET'S HOPE THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATION IN THE U.K. >> STEVEN WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION THUS FAR FROM PEOPLE IN BRITAIN?

>> IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY MIXED.

THE TABLOIDS PREDICTABLY LAMBASTED MEGHAN AND HARRY FOR THEIR CANDIDNESS.

MADE FUN OF THE CLAIMS THAT THE ROYAL FAMILY WAS BEING RACIST.

AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE QUALITY PRESS THE GUARDIAN SAID LOOK WE KNEW THIS.

WE KNEW THAT THE ROYAL FAMILY HAS BEEN RACIST AND EXCLUSIVE IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

AND I THINK IT JUST RECALLS A LONGER DEBATE IN BRITISH HISTORY ABOUT THE PLACE OF THE MONARCHY DOES IT STAND FOR INCLUSION OR EXCLUSION?

AND THE MONARCHY'S VEERED BACK AND FORTH OVER TIME IN THE TERMS THE WAY IT'S BEEN MANIPULATED OR PRESENTED ITSELF.

AND I THINK THIS WILL REOPEN A LONG DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER IN FACT, THE MONARCHY STANDS FOR AN OLD-FASHIONED LITTLE ENGLAND WHICH IS PROTESTANT, WHITE, AND EXCLUSIVE OR SOMETHING WHICH STANDS FOR A VERY BROAD MULTICULTURAL BRITISH PEOPLE.

>> MEGHAN REVEALED HER SONAR CHICAGO BEING DENIED A ROYAL TITLE, HER SON, ARCHIE WAS GOING TO BE DENIED A ROYAL TITLE AND SECURITY AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SKIN TONE.

>> AND ALSO CONCERNS AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW DARK HIS SKIN MIGHT BE WHEN HE IS BORN.

>> WHAT?

>> AND.

>> WHO IS HAVING THAT CONVERSATION?

WITH YOU?

WHAT?

>> SO, WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT HOW THE FAMILY VIEWED MEGHAN TO BEGIN WITH?

>> SO I FEEL AS THOUGH IT WAS CLEAR.

WHEN I WAS WATCHING THE WEDDING ON TV WHERE MEGHAN TRIED TO BLEND THE TWO CULTURES TOGETHER YOU KNOW, FOR THE CEREMONY, IT WAS VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT THIS -- THESE WERE NOT TWO CULTURES THAT COULD BE BLENDED.

IF YOU LOOKED AT THE BODY LANGUAGE AND SOME OF THE ACTIONS OF THE FOLKS WHILE THEY WERE THERE, THEY SEEMED VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

FOR INSTANCE PRINCE CHARLES HAD HIS BED BURIED IN THE PROGRAM FOR MOST OF IT.

SOME OF THE PRINCESSES WERE BICKERING AND GIGGLING DURING WHILE THEY WERE SINGING STAND BY ME.

YOU KNOW, IN A GOSPEL TYPE OF WAY.

IT WAS FOREIGN LIKE YOU HAVE PLACED THE STOKES AT ST. SABINA CHURCH ON -- FOLKS AT ST. SABINA CHURCH ON EASTER MORNING AND THEY WERE OUT OF PLACE.

THAT WAS NOT SURPRISING TO ME THAT SOMEONE WOULD RAISE THAT QUESTION BECAUSE IN QUITE A NUMBER OF INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES, THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE THE CHILDREN GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

AND THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE OLDEST KIND OF RACIAL ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

WHY THE RACES SHOULD NOT MIX BECAUSE YOU WILL BE PRODUCING KIDS THAT ARE DON'T LOOK LIKE THE REST OF THE FAMILY.

THAT HAS LONG BEEN AN EXCUSE.

AND THE MONARCHY IS SO FAR BEHIND THAT THEY ARE STUCK IN THE PAST.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN EVER COME OUT OF IT IT'S TOO DEEP.

>> WHAT DID THE INTERVIEW SPARK IN TERMS OF DIALOGUE AROUND IDENTITY IN BRITAIN, PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK BRITS?

>> YES.

I MEAN I THINK IT REVIVING -- I'M NOT SURE IF IT SPARKED ANYTHING.

IT MADE MORE PROMINENT AND MORE EVIDENT AND GAVE VOICE TO A FEELING LIKE BLACK BRITISH CITIZENS WHO ARE NOT TREATED EQUALLY IN ALL SORTS OF WAYS.

AND I THINK IT REVIVED A LONGSTANDING CONCERN.

OBVIOUSLY THE SCANDAL THIS HAS GONE ON OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN BRITISH HISTORY.

AND IT JUST REVIVED THOSE KINDS OF ARGUMENTS.

AND IT SHOULD BE SAID THAT ISSUES ARE NOT EXCLUSIVENESS WITH RESPECT TO THE MONARCHY HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE SINCE THE 17TH CENTURY BUT REALLY IN THE 20TH CENTURY.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A GREAT CONCERN IN 1917 HOW GERMAN AND THE MONARCHY WAS WHY THEY CHANGED THEIR NAME FROM THE HOUSE OF SAX TO AN ENGLISH NAME THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR.

BUT IT ALSO CAME UP WITH THE DEATH OF PRINCESS DIANA IN 1997.

AT THAT MOMENT, THE THEN PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR TRIED TO PORTRAY THE MONARCHY AS INCLUSIVE AS BEING EVERYBODY IN BRITAIN IN AND IT WAS THE BACKDROP TO THE VOTE THAT HAPPENED LATER THAT YEAR.

THE IDEA THAT THE MONARCHY STOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

IN MOST CASES OVER THE COURSE OF THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY IT HAS NOT STOOD FOR EVERYBODY BUT A NARROW FOCUS OF BRITISHNESS.

>> I WANTED TO ASK WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT WE WILL HEAR FROM THE ROYAL FAMILY TOMORROW NOW THAT THIS INTERVIEW HAS AIRED IN BRITAIN TONIGHT?

>> MY OWN VIEW IS THEY WILL TRY TO STAY OUT OF IT AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

HAVE OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK FOR THEM.

IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THE PRIME MINISTER DUCKED THE QUESTION.

I SUSPECT HE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT TOMORROW.

BUT I DO THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER HUGE SCANDAL FOR THE MONARCHY AND IT WILL REVIVE CALLS FOR THE REPUBLIC FOR CREATING THE REPUBLIC.

>> MAYBE WE DON'T HEAR FROM THE ROYAL FAMILY BUT THE REST OF US WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT.

STEVE PINCUS AND DAHLEEN GLANTON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WOMEN HAVE LOST MORE THAN FIVE MILLION JOBS SINCE FEBRUARY 2020.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S LAW CENTER.

THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WOMEN BORN THE BRUNT OF COVID-19'S IMPACT ON EMPLOYMENT AND THAT EFFECT HAS BEEN MORE ACUTE AMONG WOMEN OF COLOR.

JOINING US ON THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY TO DISCUSS THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON WOMEN AND A PATH FORWARD ARE, SHARMEELEE MAJMUDAR EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF POLICY AND ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT AT WOMEN EMPLOYED.

KARINA AYALA-BERMEJO, SENIOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE.

AND KARIN NORINGTON REAVES, C.E.O.

OF CHICAGO COOK WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SHARMEELEE MAJMUDAR LET'S START WITH YOU.

ACCORDING TO THE LAW CENTER WOMEN'S LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE HAS NOT BEEN THIS LOW SINCE 1988.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE SHE SESSION HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE?

>> IT'S BEEN DEVASTATING.

I THINK SOME KEY REASONS FOR THAT HAVE BEEN THE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAT ARE DRIVEN BY OCCUPATIONAL SEGREGATION THAT IS WOMEN AND PARTICULARLY WOMEN OF COLOR ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN SECTORS THAT HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC.

AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT THE FACT THAT WOMEN ARE OVERWHELMINGLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CARE.

SO FOR TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN, FAMILY MEMBERS, ELDERLY.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE SCHOOLS CLOSED AND CHILDCARE UNAVAILABLE, AND WHEN YOU ARE ALSO WORKING IN JOBS THAT OFTEN DON'T HAVE FLEXIBILITY OR DON'T HAVE POLICIES SUCH AS PAID SICK LEAVE ALL OF THIS COMBINES TO PUSH WOMEN OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE.

>> THIS IMPACT HAS BEEN FELT ESPECIALLY OF WOMEN OF COLOR N FEBRUARY 9% OF BLACK WOMEN 20 AND OVER WERE UNEMPLOYED COMPARED TO 8.5% FOR LATINAS AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG WHITE MEN WAS 5.3.

HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS IMPACTED WOMEN OF COLOR IN THE WORKFORCE IN PARTICULAR?

>> MUCH LIKE SHARMEELEE MAJMUDAR SAID, THE FACT THAT WE ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY.

AND AS CAREGIVERS HAS BEEN DEVASTATING BECAUSE WE LOOK AT THE INDUSTRIES HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC VERSUS HOSPITALITY AND RETAIL AND TOURISM.

THE SERVICE ORIENTED POSITIONS.

SO THE REAL IMPACT OF THIS HAS BEEN NOT ONLY THE INABILITY TO CONTINUE WORKING BUT ALSO THE NEED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES.

THE OTHER ISSUE IS AROUND THE CARE GIVING.

IT'S OFTEN SAID THAT WOMEN ARE PULLED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE LABOR FORCE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO AND CARE FOR OTHERS WHETHER IT'S CHILDREN OR PARENTS OR EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS.

SO THE CORONAVIRUS THE IMPACT UPON THE ECONOMY HAS REALLY JUST HIT US TWICE AS HARD AS IT'S HIT ANYONE ELSE THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

>> KARINA AYALA-BERMEJO WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN AMONG THE LATINO COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE IN CHICAGO?

>> WE KNOW OUR ZIP CODES HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT BY COVID AND WHAT THE LADIES HAVE SHOUTED OUT.

IT'S THAT OUR COMMUNITIES SUFFERED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WHEN YOU PUT ON TOP OF THAT, COVID AND CONCERNS FOR COVID, SO THE LATINO COMMUNITY WAS NEVER AFFORDED THE LUXURY TO WORK FROM HOME.

YOU HAVE WOMEN OF COLOR AT THE FRONTLINES HOSPITALITY, RETAIL OR HEALTHCARE.

SO CARING ON THAT BURDEN OF NOT ONLY BEING FRONTLINE WORKERS AND NEVER HAVING THE LUXURY OF WORKING FROM HOME YOU CARRY THAT BURDEN OF TAKING THAT BACK HOME WITH YOU.

SO WE ARE GOING INTO OUR HOMES WITH MULTIGENERATIONAL HOMES, MULTIPLE IN A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND INCREASING THE RISK OF COVID.

SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IMMEDIATELY WAS A 30% LOSS OF INCOME LOSS OF JOB.

AND 30% INCREASE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND IT'S ONLY BECOME MORE APPARENT AND IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY SO SAY I HAVE ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION IT IS A STIGMA BUT SOMETHING THAT FOLKS ARE COMING FORWARD WITH.

IT IS A REALITY THAT WE'RE FACING.

AND IT'S BEYOND ECONOMICS.

IT'S ONE THAT IS TURNING INTO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

>> KARIN NORINGTON REAVES WHAT BARRIERS REMAINING IN THE WORKFORCE DO WOMEN FACE THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THEM AND WHAT ARE THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF WOMEN BEING COUNTED OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE SO MUCH?

>> SO THE RIPPLE EFFECTS ARE NUMBER ONE, THAT WE'RE NOT IN THESE POSITIONS WHERE WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING AGE TO WORK REMOTELY.

WE'RE ALSO OFTEN IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THE DIGITAL ACCESS TO THERE IS A DIGITAL EQUITY COMPONENT THAT HAS THAT IS A RIPPLE EFFECT THERE.

THE FACT THAT C.P.S.

HAS HAD TO HAVE MOBILE TRUCKS GO INTO COMMUNITIES TO BOOST THE WI-FI SIGNAL SO CHILDREN CAN ACCESS LEARNING WITH LAPTOPS SO THAT DIGITAL EQUITY PIECE IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE.

ANOTHER RIPPLE EFFECT IS THE FACT THAT WHEN JOBS ARE RECOVERED, THE REAL QUESTION BECOMES WHAT WILL EMPLOYERS DO TO SHIFT PRACTICE AND ACCOMMODATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE WHOLE BEINGS WHEN WE COME TO WORK WE ARE NOT JUST EMPLOYEES.

WE'RE CAREGIVERS.

WE ARE MOTHERS.

WE ARE DAUGHTERS.

AND THE FACT IS THAT EMPLOYERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SHIFT THEIR PRACTICES IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE US AS WHOLE BEINGS.

SO THE RIPPLE EFFECT -- >> I WAS GOING TO GET SHARMEELEE MAJMUDAR IN HERE.

WILL WE SEE WOMEN RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE IN THE SAME NUMBERS?

AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST AS THEY ARE TRYING TO RETURN?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF THE SECTORS THAT WE HAVE REFERENCED AND HOW SOON THEY WILL RETURN WHAT RATE THEY WILL RETURN.

WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ISSUES LIKE HOTEL WORKERS HERE IN CHICAGO BEING TOLD THAT THEY WON'T BE INVITED BACK EVEN WHEN THE HOTELS DO HIRE AGAIN EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN 10, 20 YEARS BUILDING UP SENIORITY AND THE PAY THAT GOES WITH THAT SENIORITY, AND BENEFITS.

SO THE RETURN TO WORK IS A BIG CONCERN.

THERE IS A CONCERN OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE LOOKING AT OTHER SECTORS SINCE THE SECTORS MAY NOT BE BRINGING THE JOBS BACK.

AND AS KARIN WAS TALKING ABOUT ARE THE JOBS GOING TO BE THE SAME AS THEY WERE BEFORE WHICH WEREN'T WORKING FOR A LOT OF WOMEN.

WHO ARE COBBLING TOGETHER MULTIPLE PART-TIME JOBS TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

OR ARE WE GOING TO SEE A NEW WORKPLACE THAT ACTUALLY DOES PROVIDE THE KINDS OF POLICIES AND SUPPORTS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE.

>> I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS ARE HOPING THE LATEST COVID STIMULUS BILL WILL HAVE A ROLE IN THIS AS WELL.

BUT THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT FOR NOW.

THANKS TO KARINA AYALA-BERMEJO, SHARMEELEE MAJMUDAR AND KARIN NORINGTON REAVES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT WHAT WRITER JAMES BALDWIN'S WORDS SAY ABOUT TODAY'S AMERICA IN A CONVERSATION THAT ORIGINALLY AIRED ON OUR SUNDAY PROGRAM "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> THE EVENTS OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS FELT LIKE A RESULT OF FAILURE TO ACT ON THE LESSONS OF ITS PAST.

DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA JAMES BALDWIN BORE WITNESS IN HIS WORK.

THE 2020 BOOK, BEGIN AGAIN JAMES BALDWIN'S AMERICA AND LESSONS FOR OUR OWN REVISITS BALDWIN'S WORDS AS THE NATION GRAPPLES WITH ITS RACIAL CONSCIENCE.

JOINING US IS THE AUTHOR AND A PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND CONTRIBUTOR FOR MSNBC.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

>> I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> WHEN THIS BOOK WAS RELEASED IT WAS LAST SUMMER JUNE 2020 WE WERE THE NATION WAS IN THE THROES OF A RACIAL UPRISING AND NOW A MONTH INTO A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION AND SIX WEEKS REMOVED FROM THE INSURRECTION ON JANUARY 6, IS THE COUNTRY AS YOU AND JAMES BALDWIN SAY ARE WE BEGINNING AGAIN?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

I'M NOT SURE AT ALL.

IN SOME WAYS WE HAVE TO READ WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH AS AN EXTENSION OF THAT RACIAL RECKONING.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT POLICE KILLING US IT'S THE WAYS IN WHICH WHITE CONTINUES TO ANIMATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE AND JANUARY 6 WAS ABOUT MOSTLY WHITE MOB ON THE CAPITOL IN THE WHITE OF GRIEVANCE AND WHITE HATRED AND I HOPE WE DON'T TRADE ONE FANTASY FOR THE OTHER.

THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION AND PUTTING THE REPUBLIC BACK TO SLEEP WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK BALDWIN'S WRITING HAS UNDERGONE THE RESURGENCE?

HE IS THE MOST PRESSIENT WRITER ABOUT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND RACE.

AND SO MANY WAYS HE WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME.

HE MISFITTED FORCING US TO THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEM FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.

AND WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT WHERE IT SEEMS AS IF WHAT HE SPIED ON THE HORIZON IN THE EARLY DAYS HAVE COME TO FRUITION AND FOLKS ARE REACHING FOR HIM BECAUSE HE OFFERS THE MOST INSIGHTFUL COMMENTARY ON THE CONTRADICTION AT THE HEART OF THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

HE KEPT TRACK OF THE SERPENT THAT THREATENED TO SWALLOW WHOLE OF THE EXPERIMENT.

>> HERE WE HAVE JAMES BALDWIN ARCHIVE HERE IS A CLIP FROM AN INTERVIEW HE DID WITH JOHN CALLAWAY IN 1985.

>> SPEAKING AS A WRITER AGAIN SOMETIMES YOU ARE WRITING A PAGE OR A SOCIAL DISTANCE, AND YOU HAVE TO CHANGE A WORD?

THE SENTENCE AND WHEN YOU CHANGE THAT WORD AND ANOTHER WORD IN YOU ARE CHANGING HIGH PAGE.

NOW ONE CONSIDER THAT WHAT WE AS AMERICANS ARE GOING THROUGH AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE 20TH CENTURY, IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO CHANGE A SINGLE WORK.

WE TALK ABOUT THE BLACK PROBLEM.

IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE PAGE IF ONE DECIDED TO DISCUSS THE WHITE PROBLEM.

>> NOW, DOCTOR YOU ARGUE THAT THE COUNTRY IS FOUNDED ON A LIE.

AND THAT THAT LIE IS THAT THE BLACK MAN IS NOT A MAN THUS THE COUNTRY THEN FORGIVES ITSELF FOR THE TREATMENT IT INFLICTS ON BLACK PEOPLE FOR SO MANY YEARS AND AS BALDWIN SAID WE FRAMED THIS AS A BLACK PROBLEM VERSUS BEING A WHITE PROBLEM AND THE QUESTION IS: HOW DO YOU CONVINCE SOMEONE OF THE TRUTH WHEN AS YOU SAY WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING IS A LIE FOR SO LONG?

>> WELL, I MEAN IN SOME WAYS THE FACT THAT THE COUNTRY IS BROKEN OCCASIONS OF POSSIBILITY FOR US CONFRONT THE UGLINESS OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'VE DONE.

AT THE HEART OF BALDWIN'S CORPUS IS THIS RADICAL INVERSION THE PROBLEM WAS NOT US AND NEVER HAS BEEN.

WHEN WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT HASN'T BEEN US THAT IT'S BALDWIN WOULD SAY I AM NOT THE "N" WORD THE QUESTION WAS WHY DID YOU NEED THE "N" WORD IN THE FIRST PLACE?

AND THAT SHIFTS THE BURDEN OF ANALYSIS IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

NOW, IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT PEOPLE WILL LISTEN.

IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT PEOPLE WILL FIND THE MOVE COMPELLING BUT IT ORIENTS THOSE OF US TRYING TO BUILD AND INTRODUCE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY IT WILL ORIENT US DIFFERENTLY AS WE TRY TO BUILD SOLIDARITIES TO HELP BRING A NEW AMERICA INTO BEING AS WE SHIFT, I LOVE THAT FORMULATION AS WE CHANGE THE WORD.

THAT IS WONDERFULLY PUT.

OF COURSE IT IS.

>> AND YOU KNOW, IN YOUR TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK I KNOW YOU REFER TO JAMES BALDWIN, YOU CALL HIM JIMMY.

>> , WHY DO YOU CALL HIM JIMMY?

>> I'VE BEEN WALKING WITH BALDWIN FOR JIMMY FOR 30 YEARS.

AND IT'S INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP FOR ME.

TEACHING ME HOW TO BE HOW TO MANAGE MY RAGE.

HOW TO CONFRONT MY OWN VULNERABILITIES.

URGING ME AS I WAS TRYING TO WRITE THIS BOOK TO NOT IMITATE HIM BUT TO TRUST MY OWN VOICE.

TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A WITNESS.

I AFFECTIONATELY CALL HIM JIMMY BECAUSE THERE IS THIS INTIMACY THAT I HAVE WITH HIS BODY OF WORK.

AND SO IT IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN SOME WAYS, BRANDIS, WHAT HE MEANS TO ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU'VE CAUTIONED AGAINST TEACHING BLACK HISTORY IN A MANNER THAT SANITIZES HISTORIC FIGURES LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

INTO A SAFE HEROIC REDUCTION OF WHO HE WAS VERSUS WHAT THE FIGHT WAS LIKE FOR HIM.

DO YOU THINK THIS ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SANITIZE THE HISTORY OF RACISTS AND RACISM IN A SIMILAR WAY?

>> I THINK HIS BONES HAVE BEEN PICKED CLEAN AND OFTENTIMES HE IS INVOKED IN OUR POLITICS AS A REAR GUARD ACTION TO CONTAIN RADICAL IMAGINATION AND ARREST DEMANDS FOR CHANGE.

THINK ABOUT HOW Dr. KING'S VOICE IS USED IN OUR CAN CONTEXT OF POLICING.

THERE IS A SENSE WHICH IN OUR MOMENT THERE'S BEEN AN EFFORT TO NARROW THE RANGE OF WHAT CONSTITUTES LEGITIMATE FORMS OF BLACK POLITICS AND Dr. KING IS OFTEN INVOKED AS THE PRINCIPLE REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT IS LEGITIMATE FORMS.

AND WHAT IS SO IRONIC ABOUT IT AND INSIDIOUS IS THAT IT IS A CARICATURE OF Dr. KING'S LIFE OF THIS WITNESS.

ALMOST AS IF WE FREEZE HIM IN 1963 AND THEN WE MURDER HIM OVER AND OVER AGAIN EVERY HOLIDAY.

BY LOCKING HIM INTO 1963 YOU SEE.

SO ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> IN THE FEW SECONDS WE HAVE LEFT, WHAT WOULD BALDWIN SAY ABOUT THE STATE OF RACIAL EQUALITY TODAY?

>> I WOULDN'T DARE TRY TO ANTICIPATE BROTHER JIMMY'S WORDS BUT I KNOW WHAT I'VE LEARNED HE WOULD SAY TELL THE TRUTH WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE IS WHERE WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN THAT AMERICA NEEDS TO GROW UP FINALLY.

AND FACE ITS GHOSTS.

>> OK.

THANKS TO Dr. GLAUDE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED BEGIN AGAIN, JAMES BALDWIN'S AMERICA AND ITS URGENT LESSONS FOR OUR OWN.

AND YOU CAN READ AN EXCERPT ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON Facebook, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND YOU WILL GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT COVID RELIEF, VOTING RIGHTS AND MUCH MORE.

>> LUIS A BILL THAT COULD PUT AN END TO THE CONTROVERSIAL PAYDAY LOAN INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

QUITE.

[♪♪♪] STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]